Toy tank



UNITED STATES HENRY Gr. MCCOMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOY TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26,V 1921.

Application led August 21,v 1919. Serial No. 318,898.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY G. MCCOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to toys or amusement devices for children and particularly to such devices which are intended to be propelled by the child while riding therein.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a novel device of the above character which simulates a tank as used in warfare, orV a caterpillar tractor, and which can be maneuvered after the manner of such a tank or tractor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy tank or caterpillar tractor which is simple and rugged in structure, which can be built at alow cost, and which can be readily operated by any child.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanyingT description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing which illustrates one cmbodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy tank; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 'Fig'. 3 and with parts broken away to better illustrate the structure; Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail view of a part of the driving mechanism, and Fig. 5 'is a detail view of a clutch mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the tank comprises two side members A and B which are alike in structure, each comprising an inner plate or board 6 and an outer plate or board 7 held in spaced relation to each other by a strip 8. Strip 8 may be formed of one or of a plurality of pieces suitably curved to follow the contour of the side member and it is spaced slightly from the edges thereof so such edges project beyond it to form a fiange on each side. This forms a groove or track which extends around the periphery of each side member, and located therein is a tread chain comprising pairs of parallel links 9 which are pivoted at their ends on the ends of short spindles 10. On spindles 10 between links 9 are rollers 11, which may be formed of wood or othersuitable material and which run on strip 8. Pivoted on links 9 between rollers 11 are tread blocks 12. These are preferably triangular in shape being pivoted at their apeXes with their bases pointed outward and extending beyond the peripheries of the rollers so as to be adapted to engage the ground. It will thus be seen that each tread chain is an endless chain provided with rollers to run on the track and tread blocks to engage the surfaces over which the tank is being propelled. e Side members A and B are held in spaced relation to each other by suitable forward cross pieces 15, 16, and 17 and by a rear cross piece 18 and these may be of such size as to inclose the space between the side members to the extent desired in order to give the desired appearance to the tank. Cross pieces 15 and 18 are spaced a sufiicient distance apart at the top to provide an opening for the operator and at such opening is arranged a seat 19 having a back 20. The back of the seat may be curved as shown as isalso the adjacent edge of cross piece 15 to give a neat appearance to the tank. The two side members A and B and'the cross pieces 15, 16 17` and 18 lform lthe body of the tank and asis seen from the drawing, they are shaped to give the device the contour of the tanks as used in warfare.

Journaled in side members A and B in advance of and at a Vlower level than seat 18 is a crank shaft 21 having cranks 22 I on which are pedals 23 .arranged to be engaged by the feet of the operator. On shaft 21 is a driving sprocket wheel 24.

At the rear end of the tank is a driven shaft or axle 25 on which is fixed a driven sprocket wheel 26 connected to driving sprocket wheel 24 by -a chain 27 whereby shaft 25 may be driven from crank shaft 21. In the present instance a direct drive for one speed ratio is illustrated but it will be understood that a suitable arrangement to give two or more gear ratios may be utilized if found desirable. The ends of shaft 25 are journaled in sprocket hubs 28 (Fig. 5) which in turn are journaled in Y flanged bushings 29 arranged in outer boards 7 and fastened thereto by screws 29a. Sprocket hubs 28 have flanges 3 0 to which are fastened `tread chain driving sprockets 31: by a suitable number of bolts 32.

- and outer boards 6, and 7, and shaft 25 is so located that sprockets 31 are in operative relation to the tread chains, strips 8 being cut away at the points where sprockets 31 are located as shown in Fig. 2, to permit the sprockets to engagel the tread chains. Sprockets 31 are provided with curved surfaces 35 which engage chain rollers 11 to drive the tread chains in one direction and with curved surfaces 36 which engage chain rollers 11 to drive the-tread chains in the other direction.l The particular shape of sprocket 31 may be varied as found desirable and thev number of curved engaging surfaces will depend, of course, upon thel distance apart of rollers 11 and the diameter of the sprocket. As shown in Fig. 4 it may berconsidered as comprising four driving arms, each having an engaging surface 35 and an engaging surface 36 between whichl is a V-shaped notch 37 to accommodate the inner ends of tread blocks 12. f

On shaft 25, adjacent each sprocket 31, is a clutch Vby means of which such sprocket may becl'utched tol shaft 25 so as to turn therewith. In the present instance each of these clutches is shown as .comprising a sleeve 38 (see Fig. 5) having a flange 39 in which are a suitable number of axially extending spacedy holes 40, two being shown in theV present instance. Sleeve 38 has a pin and slot connection with shaft 25 so that it always turns with the shaft and can move axially thereof to a limited extent. VAs shown, sleeve 38 has a slot 41 in which is located a pin 42 fastened in shaft 25. Bolts 32, or some of them project beyond the surface of sprocket31 to form clutch pins and when a clutch sleeve 38 is moved toward the adjacent sprocket 31, such pins will engage in holes 40 to clutch the sprocket to the shaft. Each clutch is moved by means of a Ushaped lever arm 45 which straddles flange 39 and is provided with pins 46 engaging opposite sides of flange 39. Lever arm'45 is pivoted on abracket 47 fixed kto the 4adjacentinner board 6. Fixed to each lever arm 45 is a short lever arm 48 to the end of which is connected one end of-a link 49. The other end of the link 49 on theone side of the tankV is connected to a hand lever '50 pivoted on side member B as indicated at 51; and the other end ofthe link 49 on the other side of the tank is connected Vwith blocks 12 to form and in positions to be grasped by the hands of an operator sitting in seat 19. By means of hand lever 50 the clutch on the one side of the tank may be engaged and disengaged and by means of the hand lever 52 the clutch on the other side of the tank may be engaged and disengaged, and as is clear, either Y clutch may be operated entirely independently of the other. 'It will be noted that when a hand lever isy thrown or pushed forward its clutch is disengaged, while, when it is pulled backward its clutch is engaged. 1n connection with each hand lever 50 and 52 1 preferably provide a means for locking or applying a brake to the adjacenty tread chain when the lever is thrown to disengage its clutch, this being desirable, as it assists in maneuvering the tank, andfor this purpose each hand lever has fixed to it an arm 53 provided at its end with a nose 54 which when the lever is thrown forward to disengage its clutch. engages between blocks 12 to lock the tread chain, or frictionally I a brake for the tread chain.

"1n operation, theV childsits in seat19 with his feet on pedals 23. At the same time'he grips the ends of levers 50 and 52 withhis hands. Hand levers 50 and 52 may be in their forward positions soV both clutches are disengaged and both tread chains are locked against movement. If now it is desired to propel the tank forward, the'crank shaft 21 .is operated in a forward direction thus imparting a turning movement to driven shaft 25 through chain 27. Shaft 25 will turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. At the same time hand levers 50 and 52 are pulled backward thus moving noses 54 from engagement withthe tread chains and at the same time turning lever arms 45 so as to move sleeves 38 axially to bring holes 40 in flanges V39 over the projecting ends of bolts 32, thus engaging both clutches. This locks tread chain'driving sprockets 31 to' driven shaft 25, and the turning of such sprockets drives the two tread chains in a direction toV propel the tank forward. By operating' crank shaft 21 in the opposite directioirthe tank may be driven backward as 'is obvious.V maneuver theftank, z'. e., to turn it in either one` direction orthe other-,Vit is only necessary to release one clutch or the other which at the same time locks the tread chain associated with the clutch whichis released. The other tread chain will then turn the tank. y VIf it is desired to turn to the left, the left hand clutch is released and the right hand one is maintained engaged, while if it ilo Tov

is desired to turn to the right, the right hand clutch is released and the left hand one is maintained engaged. The tank may be thus turned either partly or entirely around.

It will be noted that the clutches are engaged by pulling on hand levers 50 and 52 and this assists the child in propelling the tank forward as he may pull on the levers with his arms at the same time that he is pushing kon the pedals.

The toy may be made of the same contour as the tanks used in warfare, or of the contour of a caterpillar tractor, being provided with a flat bottom surface which travels on the ground and a forwardly projecting nose which has an angular under-surface by means of which the tank is enabled to travel over very irregular ground. It may also be camouflaged as shown in Fig. 1 to add to its attractiveness.

I have found that a tank as above described will readily climb up or down an ordinary street curbing and can bev turned completely around within its own length. At the same time it is simple in structure and can be readily operated by any child. It may be made in various sizes to accommodate children of different ages and may be gea-red to give the desired speed and tractive effort.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried o'ut by other means.

fhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:-

an apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a body of the gen-eral contour of a tank or caterpillar tractor, as used in warfare or agriculture, a seat therein, endless tread chains on said body having parts adapted to engage the surface over which the device is propelled, shaft means adapted to be driven by an operator on said seat, and clutch means under the control of the operator for connecting said shaft means to either one or both said tread chains whereby the apparatus may be steered by clutching and unclutching the tread chains.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a body of the general contour of a tank or tractor as used in warfare or agriculture, a plurality of sprockets for said tread chains, a shaft v which is adapted to be drivenby an operator on said seat, and clutch means for connecting either one or both said driving sprockets to said shaft whereby the apparatus may be steered by clutching and unclutching said driving sprockets.

4. In combination, a pair of side members each having a track around it, tread chains in said tracks, vmeans including a seat for holding said members in spaced relation to each other, driving sprockets for said chains, shaft means ada-pted to be driven by an operator on said seat, and clutch means for connecting said shaft means to either one or both said sprockets whereby the apparatus may be steered by clutching and unclutching said driving sprockets.

5. In combination, a pair of side members each having a track around it, tread chains in said tracks, means including a seat for holding said members in spaced relation to each other, driving sprockets for said chains, shaft means adapted to be driven by an operator on said seat, clutch means for connecting either one or both said shaft means to said sprockets, and means adapted to be operated simultaneously with said clutch means for holding said treadchains againstv movement whereby the apparatus may be steered by clutching and unelutching 'said driving sprockets.

6. In combination, a pair of side members each having a track around it, tread chains in said tracks, means including a seat for holding said members in spaced relatio-n to each other, driving sprockets for said chains, shaft means adapted to be driven by an 'operator on said seat, a clutch for connecting each driving sprocket to said shaft means, and separate means for operating said clutches whereby the apparatus may be .steered by clutching and unclutchin said driving sprockets.

I. In combination, a pair of side members each having `a track around it, tread chains in said tracks, means including a seat for holding said members in spaced relation to each other, driving sprockets for said chains, shaft means adapted to be driven by an operator on said seat, a clutch forl connecting each driving sprocket to said shaft means, separate means for operating said clutches, and means associated with said clutch operating means for holdingv said tread chains against movement when rthe clutches are disen aged. '1, .A 8. In a toy, a ody of the contourof a caterpillar tractor, saidbody comprising two side members with a seat between, each side member being formed of two parallel plates and a strip which extends around their edges and is spaced therefrom to form a groove, a tread chain in each groove, a driving member for each tread chain, a shaft adapted to be driven by an operator on said seat, and clutch means forlconnecting either or both of said driving members to the said shaft.

9; In a toy, side members each having a groove extending around it to form a track, a seat between said side members, tread chains insaid tracks, driving members for s aid tread chains a shaft, clutch means for connecting said driving members to said shaft, a crank shaft located in advance of said seat adapted to be driven bythe feet of anoperator for driving said first named shaft, and handlevers located in'advance 4of said seat for controlling' said clutch l means. i

10. In a toy, a sidemember comprising two parallel plates, astrip which extends around the edges of said plates to holdthem in spaced relation to each other, said strip being spaced from the edges of said plates so as to form a groove, a tread chain in said groove, and adriving sprocket for said tread chain ournaled between saidV plates.

l1. In a toy, a side member comprising two parallel plates, a strip which extends around the edges of said plates to hold them in spaced relation to each other, said strip being spaced from the edges of said plates so as to form a groove, a tread chain in said groove comprising rollerswhieh run on said strip andl tread blocks, and la driving sprocket pivoted betweensaid plates. f

l2.V In an apparatus of the character described, a bodyl comprising side members,

each having a groove extending around it, tread chains in said grooves, sprockets pivoted in said side members for driving said chains, a shaft journaled in the hubs of said sprockets, clutches on said shaft for .connecting it to either or both of said sprockets, a seat located between said side members, and means operated by the hands and feet of an operator riding on said seat for turning said shaft and actuatin said clutches.

13. In a toy caterpil ar tractor, a body comprising two spaced side members with a seat betweenthem, Yeach side member having Aa groove aroundV it, an endless tread chain in each groove, a sprocket on each side member for driving the tread chains, a shaft which extends )from one side member to the other, two clutchesV on the shaft, one for each sprocket, for clutching the sprocket to the shaft, a hand lever for eachfclutch, and a locking member for eachtread chain operatedby respective hand levers, said hand levers operating first to release the clutch and then engage the locking member with the tread chain. p l

lLInV a toy caterpillar tractor, two

spaced side members, each comprising two parallel plates with a strip between them .and Aspaced from their edges to form a groove, a seat between the, side membersat In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of August, 1919.

HENRY Gr. MOCOMB. 

